Why Give?

In its mission statement, Girard College is described as a boarding school for academically capable students, grades 1 through 12, from families with limited financial resources, each headed by a single parent or guardian.

But it is much more than that.

Girard has nurtured the minds, bodies and spirits of at-risk children for 166 years.

The school's benefactor, Stephen Girard, left his generous estate to educate and care for needy children. All Girard students receive full scholarships, benefit from strong academic and extracurricular programs and live safely on an enclosed, 43-acre campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

For many years, the estate provided sufficient funds to honor Girard's wishes and to maintain a unique and historic campus. Today we need to supplement these funds to continue to educate today's students, to develop 21st-century programs and to serve the boys and girls of tomorrow.

We need your support.

There are currently 320 students (74% from Philadelphia area), 45% Boys, 55% Girls. In the last 10 years: 89% of Girard graduates attended a four-year college; 6.6% attended a two-year institution and 1.8% attended a vocational or technical school. Higher education would not have been an option for these children had it not been for a Girard education.

If you would like to make a gift to Girard College, please use our online giving form or send a check (payable to the Girard College Development Fund) to: